Diesel Particulate Filter

fergie128 · 2 Jul 2014 at 11:08

Just had a dash message on my Insignia saying that the Particulate Filter is full and to refer to the owners manual. No other warning lights on the dashboard currently.

The manual suggests going a drive and keeping the engine over 2k RPM. Just wondered if anyone else has had this kind of problem crop up in their car? Did going a harder drive fix it?

Strangely this is the first time I have ever had this come up. However, I do a lot less miles nowadays than I used to, and I am starting to think this might become a recurring issue as I am driving a diesel only about 12 miles a day, whereas before I could be doing Glasgow-Leeds return journeys twice a month.

Should I also be thinking about getting rid of the diesel and getting myself a petrol car?

Thanks!

touch · 2 Jul 2014 at 11:20

Doing lots of short journeys is bad for clogging up the filter. It needs to get up to heat to burn off the carbon buildup (hence the drive over 2k rpm to clear it).

fergie128 · 2 Jul 2014 at 11:24

Would it be worth considering having the Insignia remapped and the DPF removed?

Trifid · 2 Jul 2014 at 11:27

You may run the risk of failing the MOT in future if you do. Go for a good drive (an hour or so), on a motorway at a higher rpm and a constant speed.

fergie128 · 2 Jul 2014 at 11:34

I'll go and do that.

When I drive in general I never really seem to cruise at over 2k rpm. On the motorways I am usually just under 2k in 6th gear. Does driving in such a way cause the filter to clog up more and not burn off because the engine is not being worked as hard?

tigerstyle · 2 Jul 2014 at 12:04

fergie128 said:
When I drive in general I never really seem to cruise at over 2k rpm. On the motorways I am usually just under 2k in 6th gear. Does driving in such a way cause the filter to clog up more and not burn off because the engine is not being worked as hard?

yes

Haze · 2 Jul 2014 at 12:10

Get it removed as said above

Deep · 2 Jul 2014 at 12:11

Haze said:
Get it removed as said above

Or don't as you'll fail your MOT

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-rules-for-mot-to-test-for-diesel-particulate-filter

fergie128 · 2 Jul 2014 at 12:58

Well I guess I won't be having it removed then!

I'll try to adjust my driving habits so that I push the engine just that little bit harder on the road.

Something is telling me it might be time to buy that new 3 series I keep promising myself

Third Opinion · 2 Jul 2014 at 13:03

Two other things you can do. If you have access to the software and a ELM lead you can force a re-gen. I had to do that once with the Fiat.

Other thing is to get some stuff to stick in the fuel which does the same thing, makes the DPF run hotter and burns it off.

Tute · 2 Jul 2014 at 13:08

Or sell it and get a car without one. It's just a useless piece of expensive crap bolted to your car.

I love how the scummy government are stopping people removing them. Maybe they could engage that half a brain they share and consider why people are going to the trouble of getting it done?

Of course, I should expect no less from a bunch of people with little to no experience of having to deal with the hassle and costs associated with running a car.

Dogbreath · 2 Jul 2014 at 13:47

Tute said:
Maybe they could engage that half a brain they share and consider why people are going to the trouble of getting it done?

Because "people" seem to be incapable of either buying the correct car to start with, or using it properly after buying it. It's hardly difficult to stretch it's legs occasionally unless someone bought a diesel engined car that spends most of it's stuck in city traffic.

Just think of all the money they are saving on VED though...

NathWraith · 2 Jul 2014 at 13:59

Dogbreath said:
Because "people" seem to be incapable of either buying the correct car to start with, or using it properly after buying it. It's hardly difficult to stretch it's legs occasionally unless someone bought a diesel engined car that spends most of it's stuck in city traffic.

Just think of all the money they are saving on VED though...

Or "people" just look at the MPG figure, I'm not saying the OP is this kind of person either before anyone says!

fergie128 · 2 Jul 2014 at 14:12

Bought the Insignia initially as it was reasonably priced, spacious and a decent MPG. As I said, I was doing between 1.5k-2.0k miles a month up and down the M74, M6 and M1. Only in the past 3 months have I stopped this and now I do maybe about 120 miles a week max.

I'm going to pop some of this in the tank as well and take it a blast up the motorway tonight. I've read that it works wonders.

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/en...-diesel-particulate-filter-cleaner-325ml#tab3

God will surely strike me down for buying from Halfords though...

tigerstyle · 2 Jul 2014 at 14:28

fergie128 said:
http://www.halfords.com/motoring/en...-diesel-particulate-filter-cleaner-325ml#tab3

God will surely strike me down for buying from Halfords though...

I wouldn't bother, just the revs alone are what is required. Save your money.
As you say 120 miles a week in a diesel is nothing.

K@rl · 2 Jul 2014 at 14:40

Nasty things - had nothing but problems with the DPF in my Qashqai - this might be of help

http://www.hypermiler.co.uk/technical/the-diesel-particulate-filter-dpf-faq

Tute · 2 Jul 2014 at 14:47

Dogbreath said:
Because "people" seem to be incapable of either buying the correct car to start with, or using it properly after buying it. It's hardly difficult to stretch it's legs occasionally unless someone bought a diesel engined car that spends most of it's stuck in city traffic.

Just think of all the money they are saving on VED though...

It's just an unnecessary piece of crap that does nothing for the end user. A lot of people find that their fuel economy improves with the DPF removed.

Then there's the fact it's considered "wear and tear" and needs replacing at normally a cost of over a thousand pounds when it does give up the ghost.

It's about the same as me dumping a paving slab in your boot and making you drive around with it, only the slab dies every 100-150k at a four figure cost.

233 · 2 Jul 2014 at 14:48

ignore the scaremongers that say removing it will be an MOT fail,

its a visual only inspection and the norm for removal is to gut them internally and leave in place so from a visual point of view its still there. had the dpf removed in my mondeo taxi alongside a remap, fantastic gains in bhp and torque and approx 10% improvement in mpg on a run.

and guess what, just passed its mot last week

DannagE · 2 Jul 2014 at 14:51

Take the car for a decent ride on the motorway in 5th so the revs are higher. I can tell when mines doing it because my exhaust note sounds better when its red hot :>

andythelandy · 2 Jul 2014 at 17:36

Tute said:
It's just an unnecessary piece of crap that does nothing for the end user. A lot of people find that their fuel economy improves with the DPF removed.

Then there's the fact it's considered "wear and tear" and needs replacing at normally a cost of over a thousand pounds when it does give up the ghost.

It's about the same as me dumping a paving slab in your boot and making you drive around with it, only the slab dies every 100-150k at a four figure cost.

The only reason it is on vehicles is get get them through the initial Euro 5/6 whatever we're on now. A lot of people seem to rant and rave at the manufacturers or the government when really they don't have any option but to use these filters to get diesels to meet the particulate limit.

The limits are set by the EU and are set to only get stricter and stricter, its very likely that in 10 years time manufacturers will have to stop making diesels if the particulate limit gets stricter I suppose everyone will blame the manfacturers then as well.